Review of the Leica MP vs Leica M6: What’s the Difference?

by Eric Kim on May 25, 2012

Just got a mint (used) Leica MP from Bellamy in the mail and have been using it the last 3 weeks. I was using my Leica M6 for the last several months, but the M6 I had gave me some funky issues (my shutter would get stuck at around 22 shots – and it broke on 3 different occasions while traveling). Now I’m using the MP as my main camera, and the M6 as my backup camera while traveling.

The video above is my review of both cameras. In performance they are identical, although the MP has superior interior mechanics and is more reliable. There are also some cosmetic differences.

Interested in buying a film Leica rangefinder? If you haven’t tried it out yet, I’d recommend getting a Leica M6 and a 35mm Voightlander f/1.4 lens. It is a solid combination, and the best “bang for the buck” out there. I have tons of friends who have the combination and love it. Have the cash and want a more reliable and durable camera film rangefinder that will last you a lifetime? Then get the Leica MP and a Leica lens.

In the end, remember that it is always a better investment to buy books, not gear when trying to become a better photographer. But if you shoot with a DSLR and might want to try shooting film, want something more compact and discrete, getting a film Leica may be a good idea to try something new

If you are interested in purchasing a second-hand Leica or Lens, hit up my boy Bellamy Hunt (Japan Camera Hunter) or email him at hunts.of.tokyo@gmail.com

Any more questions about the Leica M6 vs Leica MP? Leave a comment below!

Tagged as: leica m6, leica mp, review

Pim Versteeg

hi,

Any views of the M6 compared to an M7
- Ert
  
  Although the M7 has the convenience of aperture priority I’ve always felt that this is just one more thing that can go wrong. An M6 with broken electronics (the meter) is still a working camera. On the M7 most of the shutter speeds are controlled by electronics so with a flat battery or faulty electronics only 1/60 and 1/125 will work. The meter is the same as the M6 TTL. The viewfinder on a new M7 should be like the MP regarding flare.
  
  Personally I’d rather get the M6 (classic)… or the M6 TTL if you plan to use a supported Leica flash in full auto.
http://www.flickr.com/theperplexingparadox Natalie

Hi Eric, thanks for the informative video. I really want to get my first Leica rangefinder instead of getting Bessa R2A. But I’m stuck, what are the advantages of paying extra for a M6 TTL instead of just the Leica M6?
- Greg
  
  There’s no difference other than the size of the shutter speed dial (the one on the TTL is bigger). Both have through-the-lens metering.
  - http://www.flickr.com/theperplexingparadox Natalie
    
    Thanks Greg.
Ert

The 35mm nokton 1.4 is a joke of a lens. Get the 35mm color-skopar 2.5 instead.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=20003562 Ptr Slzr

I’ve been saving for a Leica M6 and that lens for about a year now. Still have plenty to go, that lens isn’t cheap.
- http://twitter.com/NammyTsunami Nam Tran
  
  If you don’t need a super fast lens often, might i suggest the 35mm f2.5 summarit? It’s amazing! I love shooting with mine, and it was much cheeper than the summicron. it’s just not an f2
Rob LaRosa

”
the M6 I had gave me some funky issues (my shutter would get stuck at around 22 shots – and it broke on 3 different occasions while traveling). ”

That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for the M6, is it?
DigitalPowerShot

Where is your M9?!? M9-M6-MP?!
Joel

I’m looking forward to your review of the Monochrom.
- ISP
  
  Forget the digital Monochrom, real (street) photographers shoot film and only film.
  - nico
    
    no, there are just photographers who shoot with whatever camera….
http://twitter.com/adbigmilk adbigmilk

Hi. I think it’s more important spending money lense that on camera. You can find cheaper rangefinder with M mount, like Zeiss or Voigtlander and spend more money for a Leica lense.
http://travelingfarstandingstill.wordpress.com/ SKC

I have gotta second that color skopar as a cheaper and better (imho) lens to the 1.4 nokton. Not as fast but better in color and BW, and so much smaller (the lens is tiny). How often does a street photographer shoot under 2.5 anyway?
- Ert
  
  To add more to my initial, short post on the Nokton: the color-skopar is one of those gems that Voigtländer makes by keeping things simple with moderate maximum aperture. Sharp, no distortion to talk about and pretty smooth bokeh (I don’t consider myself a bokeh whore, but distracting bokeh is distracting bokeh anyways and the Nokton has it for sure). The Nokton is, well, a Nokton.. a giant killer on paper but under-delivers in real life like they all do.. plenty distortion, not particularly sharp, nasty bokeh.. in short, less bang for your buck when compared to the cheaper Voigtländers (the true gems of the rangefinder lens range).
john

How do these Leicas compare to the Zeiss Ikon? Isn’t it even cheaper? Would it not make up for an even cheaper combo?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wurdelak/ The Goodfella 1975

Hi erick, my first leica camera (if you’d even consider it a leica..) is a leica CL with a nokton 40 1.4, found it too tiny to hold and nearly fell from my grip twice while shooting streets (i am using D700, and D300s as back up before, so you can imagine the big difference on the feel and the grip when i shifted to an RF, much more, the leica CL). i sold the set and got myself an M6 TTL and a 35 1.4 CV. IMHO, the 35 1.4 is a love it or hate it lens… the distortion is awful, it does the job anyways, especially in lowlight situations, but you have to watch for the background, as i’ve stated earlier, the distortion is awful.

i sold it off for cheaps , got myself a 21mm f4 CV, and never looked back, now, that is my Only lens, stuck to my M6 for street shooting, i have a sweet canon serenar 50 1.8 though, but that’s used exclusively to shoot portraits of my wife and son.

have you tried the 21mm CV before? how do you find it’s perfomance?
Zoran Milosavljevic

The reason you had problems with your M6 is there are only three places
that you can get them serviced properly. They are in order, Leica Japan, some guy whose name escapes me
in the mid west, and the Leica factory in germany 9and the factory is not perfect the first time ask for a loner). Leica Repair in New Jersey is staffed by monkeys who will probably screw up your camera even more than when it came in.
On the topic of the view finder you can have the MP finder retriofited to your M6, I had it done and it’s like night and day.
The MP is a beautiful camera but for the price you could buy two M6′s and have a backup or a color and B&W body, unless you are going alacart and can get the .58 finder it’s not worth it. Save the money on a trip or a second lens.

Zoran Milosavljevic

http://losangelesstreetphoto.blogspot.com/

http://zoranmphotography.com
Bud

How do You travel with film ?
Most people skipped filmloading cameras because after 9-11, int’l traveling became a PITA.
How do You protect Your film rolls from x-ray ?
-
Where is Your M9 / +1 ?
-
Regards,

Bud
seezee

Have you considered getting one of those rewind levers for your MP?
Skip Converse

I’d have to agree with you, Eric. I’ve read a lot and widely concerning things photographic. I have the Leica MP, and I’m awaiting delivery of a Leica M7. I can’t wait. I have an M9, but I love shooting B&W film (not the Leica Monochrome). That M7 sounds like the ticket for me. Thanks for this awesome blog.
Michael Ernest Sweet

Why do people buy Leica cameras and then put junk Voigtlander glass on them? It doesn’t make sense. Buy a Nikon if you cannot afford a Leica system. Leica + Leica = Love
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LvanGalen

The CV 35mm 1.4 is indeed à joke. So soft and who needs 1.4 in streetphotography? Got the 35mm 2.5 CV which is much better!
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